ABOUT US

Passion

The Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) envisions a future where people of all ages and from all sectors collaborate to make our communities healthier, happier, and more prosperous. This is possible only when people talk with one another about important community issues, challenges, and opportunities. To that end, the Fresh Outlook Foundation’s passion is “inspiring community conversation for sustainable change.”

History

FOF was established in 2007 by communications consultant Joanne de Vries, with support from a committed group of board members and volunteers who shared her passion for building sustainable communities in British Columbia, Canada. Now a registered charity, FOF is highly acclaimed as the creator and host of innovative and interactive events, programs, and projects that enable and encourage community sustainability.

The Building SustainABLE Communities Conference and Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, for example, involve people from government, business, and the nonprofit and academic sectors. These events are designed to accelerate change across whole communities.

Other FOF projects aim to address particular issues or sectors. Talking DIRTy x10,000, for instance, used the award-winning documentary DIRT to promote soil ecology and conservation in the Okanagan Valley, while the Breakfast of Champions model celebrates sustainability successes in the private sector. And, the Thompson-Okanagan Climate Action Exchange showcases greenhouse gas reduction successes in communities, business, and the nonprofit and academia sectors.

Board Members

Joanne de Vries, Founder & CEO

The foundation is the brainchild of Joanne de Vries, a communications consultant with almost 25 years experience in social marketing, risk communication, market research, and project design, development, delivery, and evaluation. She has worked closely with all levels of government throughout BC to help them educate and consult with their publics about sustainability issues, such as strategic and community planning, water and wastewater management, solid waste management, transportation demand management, and energy efficiency.

Dean Desrosiers, Chair

Dean is a marketing and business development specialist with local, national, and international experience. He has experience working in sales, pricing, regulatory environments, branding, education, symposium organization, and developing new technology and markets. Dean’s passion for sustainability emerged during his work in the coastal and interior forests of BC, and came full circle during his tenure working in Europe where sustainability plays a more important part of community, government and business/industry culture. Today, Dean is a full-time real estate professional and investor in Kelowna, B.C.

Alison Shaw, Board Member

Dr. Alison Shaw is Principal sustainability consultant and organizational coach at FlipSide Sustainability. With more than twenty years of climate change and sustainability research and consulting experience, she now uses pioneering approaches to transition businesses and organizations toward sustainability. Through FlipSide, she helps public and private sector clients integrate people and planet into their business models and organizational efforts. Her mission is to advance healthy and sustainable organizations in all sectors, in order to catalyze a new era of business consciousness.

Aura Rose, Board Member

Aura is the co-owner and winemaker for House of Rose Winery. Passionate about the environment, she’s worked hard to reduce the environmental footprint of the winery through energy, toxin, and waste reduction programs. The winery won the City of Kelowna’s Environmental Award in 2014. Aura also sits on the regional Agriculture Advisory Board, is a past board member of Kelowna Women in Business, and is a member of 100 Women who Care.